Services

Our Collaborative Approach to Your Pet's Health

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese medical technique used for over 3,000 years in China, Japan and Korea. Needles are placed in designated points to effect various changes in the body to decrease pain, help heal injuries or disease conditions, stimulate or regulate immune responses, and/or decrease anxiety or behavioral issues.

Chiropractic

Chiropractors use spinal “adjustments” to reduce subluxation and help restore vital nervous system communication. The chiropractic method of pain inhibition is a combination of mechanical, soft tissue, neurological and physiological aspects.

Massage

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Animals benefit from massage very much like people do. Our massage therapists work with different techniques to do both gentle and deep tissue massage. The massages can be invaluable to the healing process. Massage increases circulation to problem areas, stretches muscles that are poorly or improperly used due to injury or disease, and sometimes just helps a spasming muscle to finally relax.

Veterinary Rehabilitation

In humans, physical therapy is widely used to help people recover from trauma, surgeries, illnesses, arthritis, obesity and other problems. We use similar techniques to help animals recover from many of the same conditions.
There are a number of therapies that can be used. The underwater treadmill is one method. We also can use or recommend therapeutic exercises, agility techniques, theraband limb work, exercise balls, proprioception equipment, or therapeutic clothing. We work with the animal and the owner to design a program that will work best for them.

Mission & History

We believe that animals can benefit from a comprehensive and integrative approach to their medical care.

The Royal Treatment Veterinary Center (RTVC), under the supervision of Dr. Barbara Royal, is a veterinary facility for veterinary rehabilitation, acupuncture, chiropractic, massage, herbal and nutritional consultation, holistic medicine, and chronic care. Dr. Royal has been a veterinarian for over 20 years, graduating with high honors from the University of Illinois in 1995. She has completed certification coursework in Acupuncture, Herbal Medicine, and has been trained in Veterinary Rehabilitation. She has practiced acupuncture and alternative medicine for over 13 years. She has also been a specialist at the Veterinary Specialty Center, general medicine practitioner at Family Pet Animal Hospital, emergency veterinarian, and an exotic/zoo consultant.

We are both a traditional as well as complementary veterinary practice. We believe that animals can benefit from a comprehensive and integrative approach to their medical care. Working with veterinarians and other specialists, we strive to improve and extend the quality of life for your pet. We have state-of-the-art underwater treadmills with incline and resistance jet features for therapeutic uses and conditioning. We can also employ the use of a large free-swim pool located in our building at STAY Dog Hotel.

At the Royal Treatment Veterinary Center, animals are individually assessed for any health, nutrition, mobility or behavioral issues. We may recommend any combination of alternative therapies and/or possible return to Western medical veterinarians for further treatment. When an animal comes under our care, our comprehensive approach can decrease pain, increase mobility, invigorate health, and improve energy. Owners can regularly consult with us about the care of any age pet with any condition.

Meet Our Team

Dr. Barbara Royal, DVM, CVA

Dr. Barbara Royal is an internationally-renowned pioneer in complementary medicine and physical rehabilitation. A passionate advocate of commonsense and cutting-edge approaches to optimal animal health, Dr. Royal provides a bridge between Western and Eastern medicine.

Dr. Tricia Stimac, DVM, CVA, CVSMT

Dr. Tricia Stimac is an integrative veterinarian with a focus on cats and dogs but she also has experience caring for exotic and wildlife animals. Along with her DVM degree she is a certified animal chiropractor and acupuncturist. She offers an integrative approach to animal health care through a variety of modalities.

Dr. Arielle Herndobler, DVM, CVA, CVSMT, CCRP

Dr. Arielle Herndobler joined the Royal Treatment Veterinary Center team in February 2016. She is excited to combine both holistic and western medical modalities to provide a highly individualized treatment plan for each pet she meets.

We are excited to announce the addition of Dr. Lauren Beaird as an associate veterinarian at the Royal Treatment Veterinary Center! Dr. Beaird completed both her undergraduate and veterinary medicine degrees at the University of Illinois at Champaign/Urbana and graduated in May of 2015.

Testimonials

What our clients (and patients) say

After the owner was out of town, Ota developed Hepatic Lipidosis. An integrative medical approach and home care brought her back to health!

They get just as excited to go to the Royal Treatment Center as going to our lake house in Michigan! Our elderly dogs now are back to their activity levels of 6 years ago! We just can’t thank everyone there enough!

LATEST NEWS

EVENTS - RECALLS - USEFUL ARTICLES

We are excited to announce the addition of Dr. Lauren Beaird as an associate veterinarian at the Royal Treatment Veterinary Center! Dr. Beaird completed both her undergraduate and veterinary medicine degrees at the University of Illinois at Champaign/Urbana and graduated in May of 2015. She started her career at a progressive small animal veterinary practice-> Continue reading Please Welcome Dr. Lauren Beaird to the Royal Treatment!

Check out Dr. Royal’s latest interview with Maria Menounos on her Sirius XM radio show “Conversations with Maria Menounos”. Dr. Royal’s interview will be this Monday, March 12th, 2018 at 1pm EST, 10am PST on Sirius XM Stars Channel 109.

Welcome to RAHU – Royal Animal Health University The Royal Animal Health University (RAHU) is dedicated to teaching and advocating a hands-on, holistic, innovative, and common-sense approach to all aspects of animal care. Our effective, science-based, integrative veterinary summits and webinars are designed to help caregivers — from pet parents to industry professionals to veterinarians-> Continue reading Welcome to Royal Animal Health University

A champion of integrative veterinary medicine for many years, Dr. Royal will present a practical and informative 3-part series commencing on March 6th through the College of Integrative Veterinary Therapies.

On February 3rd, 2017, Evanger’s Dog and Cat Food Co. issued a voluntary recall for 5 lots of Hunk of Beef in Au Jus due to the detection of a contaminant Pentobarbital. Full information regarding the recall can be found on the FDA.gov’s recall page and on Evanger’s company website. The full company announcement as posted to the-> Continue reading Voluntary Recall – Evanger’s Hunk of Beef Canned Food

Due to heavy maintenance being performed at our location this week, our office will be closed on Tuesday, January 31st and Wednesday, February 1st, 2017. We will return to the office at 10 am on Thursday, February 2nd. Any phone and email messages left during our closure will be received and processed on Thursday. Thank-> Continue reading Office Closed January 31st and February 1st 2017

Summer weather is finally returning to Chicago and that means increasing temperatures! Today we bring back a feature article Dr. Royal wrote during a hot August week a few years ago for the Huffington Post. Keep this always valuable information handy (on your fridge or in your car’s glove box for example) and if you suspect your pet may have be having a heat related problem, seek emergency medical care.

In a surprising but delightful turn of scientific events, a team of researchers from the esteemed California A&M Polterstudy University and the well-respected Boston P&M Pixigram Institute have conclusively determined that food has absolutely no affect on pet health. Their research has shown that we should forget nutrition in favor of more scientific medical management-> Continue reading Research Shows Food Doesn’t Affect Pet Health: Forget Food, Use Drugs!

Each year on Valentine’s Day, the poison control center reports a significant rise in cases of poisoned pets around February 14. Here are a few guidelines to ensure a safe Valentine’s Day for your furry loved one!

Carnivore Meat Company has voluntarily recalled a single lot of Vital Essentials Frozen Chicken Patties that tested positive for Salmonella during routine FDA testing. No other products have been affected by this recall. Full information about the recall can be found on Vital Essentials’ website. The single lot involved in this voluntary recall is: -> Continue reading Voluntary Recall of Vital Essentials Frozen Chicken Patties

As 2015 winds down and we begin looking forward to what we want to accomplish in 2016, now is the perfect time to curl up with a good book like Dr. Royal’s “101 Reasons to Get Out of Bed” for inspiration. Richard Branson, Founder of the Virgin Group which includes Virgin Unite (the entrepreneurial foundation-> Continue reading 101 Reasons to Get Out of Bed for the New Year

Beginning December 10th, Stella & Chewy’s is voluntarily recalling four of it’s products sold in the USA and Canada due to the possible presence of Listeria monocytogenes. The recall was prompted by a positive test for Listeria during routine quality testing by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Dr. Barbara Royal’s new book “101 Reasons To Get Out of Bed” is now available in the US in paperback and EBook. Come celebrate the release of this highly anticipated new book Thursday, December 10th at PAWS Chicago Adoption Center, 1997 N. Clybourn Ave, 5pm – 8pm.

There is no doubt that we take bacteria here seriously at the Royal Treatment and to kick off the holiday season we were reminded today that bacteria play a role in just about everything that happens around us.

If you have an emergency with your pet during holiday hours, please contact your nearest emergency center. Please visit our Emergency Care page for a list of nearby emergency centers and contact information. Have a safe and wonderful holiday season!

Happy Halloween from Dr. Barbara “Rotten” Royal & The Staff and a big thank you to everyone that submitted a photo for our virtual Halloween Pet Parade! We hope everyone has a very fun and safe holiday. Here are just a few helpful tips to make sure you and your pet have the best Halloween possible –

Beginning Thursday, October 15th, Dr. Royal will be out of town for a veterinary continuing education conference. Her good friend and colleague Dr. Susan Fife will be available to see appointments Thursday 10/15 through Saturday 10/17.

The Healthy Happy Dog Summit will train YOU to provide the happiest, healthiest life possible for your pup! With 30 world experts sharing their knowledge, they’ll teach you the best ways give your dogs the wonderful lives they deserve!

Carnivore Meat Company, producers of Vital Essentials raw food, has issued a voluntary recall of two Frozen Beef Tripe products due to the detection of Listeria in product tested by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. More information is available below and on Vital Essential’s Official Website.

The Fourth of July is a fun time for kids and adults but it can be scary for your pets. How do you keep your little guys from getting scared by the fireworks this weekend? Dr. Barbara Royal from the Royal Treatment Vet Center has the answers!

The Royal Treatment will be open with reduced hours on Friday, July 3rd from 9am until 1pm. We will be closed on Saturday, July 4th, and will reopen on Monday, July 6th at 9am. Dr. Royal also offers expert advice to help your pet deal with the stress of thunderstorms and fireworks.

From March 15-April 15, supporters will have a voice in the direction of the AHVMF’s work for the next year. This year’s campaign is divided into four weeks. How people respond to weekly surveys and what they donate to support will direct our decisions and possibilities.

St. Patrick’s Day is fast approaching. Shamrocks, rainbows, beer, leprechauns, green rivers, and everything lucky – this holiday has it all. However for pets, St. Patrick’s Day can accidentally become unlucky and even dangerous for a number of reasons. Here are some guidelines for keeping your pet safe.

Probiotics are extremely important in our practice and key to keeping our patients wildly healthy! Today we are sharing Dr. Royal recommendations from her book “The Royal Treatment: A Natural Approach to Wildly Healthy about probiotics –

Because of city work on our water main for the next several weeks, we will help you when you arrive and make it possible for you to find parking for your appointment. Call when you are nearby, and we will meet you for a curbside drop off. Give us a call, 773-267-9966 if you need assistance.

FOX 32 News Chicago We know dental hygiene is important, but we can’t forget about our pets either. This week Dr. Barbara Royal explains how important dental hygiene is for our pets, and easy ways to help manage your pet’s dental health.

The Royal Treatment Veterinary Center will be closing at 3pm on Wednesday July 30th for a staff event, and we will reopen on Thursday, July 31st at 10am. We will also open later on Wednesday, August 6th at 11am and will remain open until our regular time of 5pm.

We are very excited to announce that the first course in the Royal Treatment Method Certification Program is now available! For more information about available courses and registration, PLEASE CLICK HERE.

An article in The European Journal of Health Economics, Volume 13, Issue 6, December 2012 showed that patients whose General Practitioner knew additional complementary and alternative medicine modalities like acupuncture and homeopathy spent less on healthcare and lived longer!

Moving? New cell-phone number? Forgot to mention it at your last appointment? No problem! We are happy to introduce our contact information update form on our website. Changes submitted here will be made in your records so that we can better serve you.

Check out WFLD Fox 32 News at 9:20 am each Tuesday for Dr. Royal’s pet segment. This week Dr. Royal will talk about weight control including tips for weight loss and photos of pets who have made great strides to better weight.

Check out WFLD Fox 32 News at 9:20 am each Tuesday for Dr. Royal’s pet segment. This week Dr. Royal will talk about weight control including tips for weight loss and photos of pets who have made great strides to better weight.

We aren’t only seeking out integrative medical professionals for our own aches and pains, more of us are bringing our cherished pets to veterinarians who combine the best of Western and Eastern medicine. Dr. Barbara Royal, DVM, was recently interviewed by Lisa Fields, writer, WebMD, on how she successfully incorporates nutritional consultation, acupuncture, massage and other rehabilitation therapies in her practice to treat pets with allergies, geriatric conditions or chronic diseases.

Thank you to all of friends, family, co-workers and clients who donated to the Special Olympics and gave us a great reason to jump in the lake! We had a ton of fun and hope to do it all again next year…minus the polar vortexes.

Some animals have thick skin, waterproof feathers, special chemicals in their blood, or a layer blubber for insulation to survive in cold weather and water. Then there’s us, the Royal Treatment Staff who will happily throw themselves in Lake Michigan on Sunday, March 2nd at 11:30 for the Chicago Polar Plunge to benefit the Special Olympics.

Stay tuned! Beginning Feb. 25 at 9:20 a.m. CST, Chicago’s Top Pet Vet Dr. Barbara Royal will appear on Fox-TV’s Good Day Chicago as a weekly contributor. She’ll provide insight into her natural approach to wildly healthy pets, answer the most commonly asked questions about your furry friends, and feature amazing owls live in the studio! Then head over to Fox Chicago New’s Facebook page for Q & A with Dr. Royal following the on-air segment.

Online and Hands-on courses in keeping pets WILDLY HEALTHY.
Practical and effective information tailored to different experience levels–
from pet parents to vet techs to veterinarians.Sign up now to get information on our spring courses and information on getting Certification in the Royal Treatment Method!

Joined by Traci Hotchner & Dr. Patrick Mahaney, catch Dr. Royal as co-host of Holistic Vets – a talk radio program covering a broad range of topics about wellness in dogs and cats. New broadcasts are available every Tuesday at 7pm Central time.

As President of the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association, Dr. Royal attended the 2014 AVMA Veterinary Leadership Conference in downtown Chicago. The conference included the Annual Session of the AVMA House of Delegates, of which the AHVMA was represented by both Dr. Barbara Royal and Dr. Nancy Scanlan.

Merrick Pet Care’s Dogington University present’s Dr. Royal via webinar uncovering the hidden health potentials available in many foods and discussing the critical role food and nature remedies play in helping stressed, troubled animals recover from their tragic histories. Please click continue reading to watch the video.

Even though we like to think of pets as members of our families, we really have to remember that they are a different species, with different ability to metabolize chemicals. Many mediations that are safe for us are not safe for them.

As fall approaches, many people will witness the amazing bird formations flying south for the winter. The seasonal migration of many animals happens naturally every year for breeding, gathering food and for their life cycles. However, many people are unaware of the effect seasonal migration has on humans and their pets.

Congratulations to Dr. Royal who has been named President of the AHVMA (American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association). You can read her incoming remarks from this year’s AHVMA conference in Kansas City, learn more about the organization she now leads, and look for AHVMA news right here.

Dr. Royal’s book, “The Royal Treatment: A Natural Approach to Wildly Healthy Pets” is coming out in paperback on June 25th! You can now pre-order the paperback version through websites like Amazon.com and other fine retailers.

Dr. Royal will be talking about springtime allergies and will include tips for alleviating allergies such as bathing and diet. Dr. Royal will also discuss reducing stress during springtime storms, plus upcoming flea, tick, and heartworm preventatives.